06.19.06 Barrett Praises Milwaukee City Librarian Kathleen Huston

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 19, 2006

Contact:	Eileen Force, Communications Director
	Office of Mayor Tom Barrett
	414-286-8504 (phone) 414-286-3191 (fax) eforce@milwaukee.gov

Barrett Praises Milwaukee City Librarian Kathleen Huston,
Winner of the Public Policy Forum's Norman N. Gill Award

MILWAUKEE (June 19, 2006) – Mayor Tom Barrett congratulates Kathleen M. Huston, Milwaukee City Librarian, who has been named recipient of the Public Policy Forum's Norman N. Gill Award for Individual Excellence in Government.

Huston has served as City Librarian since 1991. Under her leadership, the City of Milwaukee Public Library system moved into a new era of technology, renovated facilities to improve access and service to the public and promoted literacy and reading in a variety of innovative ways. She will retire at the end of June.

"Our city has a fine tradition of excellent library service," said Mayor Tom Barrett. "Kate Huston has built on that tradition by making libraries community anchors in our neighborhoods, preserving the landmark Central Library for new generations, and continually championing reading and literacy."

Working with the library foundation, Kate led a campaign to renovate the Central Library which was completed in 2000 through an $8.3 million public/private partnership. She directed the complete renovation of five neighborhood libraries and the construction of two new libraries - Bay View, and Washington Park-- to assure neighborhood facilities provide improved customer access to electronic resources and print collections.

As a result of Huston's vision, Milwaukee was one of the first libraries in the state to provide computers for public use in 1993. Today the library system offers 400 public computers with free Internet access and a wide variety of electronic information for research, career and job searching, and educational programs for children. Nearly 30,000 individuals have taken a free class at the library to improve their computer skills. The Central Library and all neighborhood library locations also provide wireless connectivity.

Huston is a strong supporter of the Milwaukee County Federated Library System, of which the City of Milwaukee Public Library is a member. She actively seeks partnerships and collaborations to improve access to information and library resources for everyone.

The Norman N. Gill Award is the highest award that the Public Policy Forum gives to non-elected government officials who through their leadership and innovation demonstrate that "government works" for its citizens and taxpayers. Huston will be presented with her award at the Public Policy Forum Salute to Local Government on Wednesday, June 21 at the Italian Community Center in Milwaukee.

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